If you spend any time in rural Indiana, there may be moments when you feel as though someone should be playing John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” as your own personal soundtrack. I had one of those moments during a recent trip to Hope, Indiana in northeast Bartholomew County.

The Hope Town Square bandstand

Hope offers a charming town square, surrounded by shops, cafes, the public library, and all the other pieces that make life in small town Indiana complete. My son and I enjoyed an ice cream treat from Cornett’s Corner Café. Then we wandered over to the playground, and stopped to admire the beautiful wooden bandstand.

If you’d like to explore this classic small town Hoosier atmosphere, there are two upcoming events that will give you a good reason to visit. The Hope Ride takes off from Hauser High School on September 18. This bike ride varies in length from 13 miles up to 100 miles, and benefits the Hope Food Bank. Riders will be able to enjoy live music, good food, and beautiful scenery.

The very next weekend, September 24-26, Hope Heritage Days celebrates the founding of the town. There will be live music from the bandstand all weekend, fireworks Saturday night, and a parade Sunday afternoon.

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Written by Nicole Wiltrout: Nicole is a stay-at-home mom and blogger living in Columbus, Indiana. She blogs about adventures at home and away with her husband and 2-year-old son at arrowssentforth.blogspot.com. She grew up in Plainfield, Indiana and graduated from Butler University in 2002. She grew up in Plainfield, Indiana and graduated from Butler University in 2002. She spent seven years living and working in downtown Indianapolis following college. Nicole is always looking for fun, kid-friendly outing ideas. You can contact her via email or find her on Twitter at @arrowssentforth. Nicole receives compensation from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development for blogging. For more information, see our FTC Disclosure page.